August 12, 2014 • Page 13 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Steve “Chopper”, Marlene Johnson Set To Serve As Captain And Belle V ARILEK TRUCK REPAIR, Inc. YA SEE US FOR ALL YOUR TRUCKING NEEDS! We hear how many people there are for it, so it will be something.” Riverboat Days and the accompanying Summer Arts Festival will be held Aug. 1517. Steve served on the Riverboat Days board of WORLD IS H Riverboat Days captain and belle have never seen the Saturday morning parade. “I got to drive in it with the fire department once for a while, but there was a fire and I pulled the rig out,” Steve said. “To see the parade will be so much fun. T OF T OU children. “Growing up, the kids had to report to Chopper or myself every hour,” Marlene said. “They grew up with Riverboat 16, 17 August 15, Days, which 14 was really fun. www 20 com Days A few years .riverboatdays. based on ago, (Steve and I) what the both talked about Press & Dakotan going off the board. We saw during the interview. thought about enjoying “Riverboat Days is the Riverboat Days and best celebration around, and spending time with our kids. it’s totally free,” Marlene But both of our children said. “All of your hard work said, ‘That is our family. pays off. You even forget Riverboat Days is tradition.’ how tired you are. When So we decided to stay on everybody shows up and longer.” has a good time, you get When the Johnsons ride caught up in the moment.” the boat through the Added Steve, “I’m glad Riverboat Days parade, they I’m a part of it. Anybody who expect to have two young takes on anything for the grandchildren along for the betterment of Yankton and trip. Throughout the the surrounding area - my summer, the couple will hat’s off to them. It’s a lot of make appearances at a work.” handful of area events. The Johnsons appear “We know what to ready to step out of the expect because we’ve seen trenches and into the the other couples take it on spotlight. over the years,” Steve said, “It’s another chapter of pointing out that they had Riverboat Days for us,” Steve pulled the float for the said. captain and belle in those For more information on regional parades. “That’s so this year’s Riverboat Days, helpful.” visit The board probably www.riverboatdays.com. couldn’t have picked two more enthusiastic ambassadors for Riverboat NK TON YS RIVERBOAT DA Although Steve “Chopper” and Marlene Johnson have been volunteering at Yankton’s Riverboat Days for three decades, they are looking forward to some new experiences at this year’s bash. For example, the 2014 directors for 25 years and has been a volunteer since the inaugural festival. Marlene served on the board for years and has also volunteered since the beginning. “It is the hardestworking group of people you could ever meet,” Marlene said. “It’s a privilege to be able to represent them and Yankton.” The Johnsons were told late on a Thursday night earlier this spring that the board had selected them to be the ambassadors of Riverboat Days. “(Steve) answered the door, and the whole board was standing on the front porch,” Marlene recalled. “He looked at them and said, ‘No, no and no!’ But they talked to us for a while, and we decided after some consideration that we would do it. It’s a great honor. We are thrilled to death. It will be fun to do things from this aspect.” After stepping off the board last year, Steve expected to relax a little more this summer. “That didn’t happen,” he said. “It will be a change (being the captain and belle). It should be a lot easier. We’re still going to help with the set-up and tear-down. We guaranteed we would do that. I don’t want to miss it.” Riverboat Days has been a part of the summer routine for the Johnsons and their nkton Ya t Days erboa& Summer Riv l 1st Annua 3 val Arts Fersstig t .or (605) 665-1447 East Hwy. 50, Yankton, SD ktonareaa wwww.yan Yarns • Books • Needles & Hooks Call now for new class schedules! Morgen Square 1101 Broadway Yankton 605-689-3999 Open Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm Sat: 10am - 5pm www.eweknitit.com Welcome Darts To Yankton! Pool Good Food Daily Specials Table Cold Beer Great Service Yankton Mall 665-1902 Video Lottery ffle Ra 6 for 5 $1200 Cash $ $ $700 Cash $400 Cash $ $ Truxedo Cover Jolene Steffen Print Mark Anderson Giclee Larry’s Heating & Cooling/ Slumberland – $250 Gift Certificate $250 Yankton Bucks 3 – $100 Hy-Vee Cards 5 – $100 WalMart Cards $200 Murdo’s Aten Resort Certificate 2 – $25 El Tapatio Certificates 4 – Fryn’ Pan Meal Certificates 00 00 00 30 for 20 0 0 Purchase tickets from: RBD Board Members, Services Center Federal Credit Union, during the parade, and during the festival at Riverside Park. 2014 SPONSORS: RBD Board of Directors, Services Center Federal Credit Union, Murdo’s Aten Resort, Fryn’ Pan, Hy-Vee, Slumberland, Jolene Steffen, Mark Anderson, El Tapatio